Auto racing: Kurt Busch set for bid at double duty

INDIANAPOLIS — Kurt Busch craned his neck toward a monitor and studied the Indianapolis 500 practice results. He didn’t seem happy with his final practice speed, roughly 3 mph off the pace and not good enough in the Andretti Autosport backup he was forced into after wrecking his own, faster car earlier this week.

Busch seemed subdued for the first time this month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and sounded Friday as if he was trying to lessen the hype that has surrounded his bid at the fabled Double, the Indy 500 followed by NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night.

The harsh reality: Busch was 15th in his final practice on Indy’s 2.5-mile oval, and talked not of winning or contending for a 500 victory, simply "about giving it my best."

"I give myself a B-minus right now," Busch said. "I still have to work through traffic and to pass cars and let others feel more confident around me."

Busch starts 12th here on Sunday and has posted the type of practice speeds that should at least have him in the mix for a top-10 run. He’s certainly ready physically for Sunday’s grueling affair. The 35-year-old Busch is in the best shape of his career, trying to steel his body for the cramps, knots, aches and fatigue that are sure to afflict him in his attempt to complete 1,100 miles in two of motorsports’ most prestigious races.

For weeks, he has kicked, stretched and wormed his way through workouts more suitable for basic training.

Busch rattled off heart rate numbers and sleep scores like a physician.

And his race weekend meals are meticulously planned down to each beet root smoothie and beef jerky snack.

He is as much a fitness freak these days as he is a driver, prepping for his attempt at The Double with the zeal of a marathon runner, staying true to strict training regimens and diets he believed will boost his stamina and focus.

"This can hit me hard," Busch said.

"I can’t let being mentally or physically weak be the reason I don’t finish."